About us

Areas of Concern

Visibility – absence of written contract/letter of appointment which prevents domestic worker from having any record of employment
Lack of access to training/skills/personal development
Lack of recognition for domestic service reduces self-respect and personal dignity
Inability to access legal relief even where legislative coverage is available
Unregulated working( and living) conditions, with occupational safety including exposure to communicable disease being difficult to ensure
No legal stipulation on wages and benefits, leave, maternity leave, holidays.
Lack of protection/access to justice where abuse, harassment take place due to isolation within employer’s household

Interventions

Baseline Survey (2007)

This was the first time information has been made available on the scope and size of this issue through a Baseline Survey of 569 domestic workers from 12 districts of Sri Lanka. This Survey was carried out in collaboration with Women’s Education & Research Centre [WERC]

Petition (2008)

A nationwide Petition with over 5000 Signatures of domestic workers from all over the country has been submitted to the Hon’ble Minister of Labour Relations and Manpower demanding suitable Employment Legislation.

Solidarity campaign with CNV Internationaal, Netherlands
371 national and local TUs, NGOs and CBOs, professional and Housewives Associations and media representatives have been mobilized through a series of Awareness Building Workshops
A fully functional Help Desk and Helpline

Direct interventions with Police, Employers, etc. for employment related issues

Organising Domestic Workers into 14 Domestic Worker Associations. At present, current membership is around 4000 and the NWC has an ongoing outreach programme.
Celebrating World Day for Decent Work on the theme of “Protective Legislation for Domestic Workers”
Draft of a Domestic Workers Charter (Legislation for the Protection of Domestic Workers).